MONGOLS CHINA AND THE SILK ROAD : 700-year-old shipwreck antiquities found in central Vietnam (with photo's)

Xinhua, 1 july 2013

HANOI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of antiquities from an ancient sunken ship have been discovered in Binh Son district in Vietnam's central province of Quang Ngai, state-run news agency reported on Monday.

Among the discovered objects, over 4,000 artifacts, including coins and ceramics, were recovered undamaged, which are believed to date back to the 13th century.

The objects were collected from the seabed during an excavation on June 4-23, according to the Quang Ngai provincial steering board for archaeological exploration and excavation of underwater cultural heritage.

The ship measures 20.5 meters long and 5.6 meters wide with 13 holds. Remnants left from holds 4 to 6 prove that the ship caught fire before sinking.

The findings are expected to contribute to the research of Vietnam's ceramics in the 13th century and enrich the country's cultural heritage.

Close up 700 year old ancient ship sank in Quang Ngai

From: vietgiatri.com (translated from Vietnamese with google.translate)

According to archaeological experts, ship sinking in Binh Chau neck length 21 m, the bottom 5.6 m at its widest, with 12 cabins, 3 floors. Despite fire, immersed, buried under the sea 700 years old but in good condition hull, hull height is still about 1/3. In particular, the rudder system and ancient dragon boat remains relatively intact.

Morning 30.6, Quang Ngai province and Sunshine Group Co., Ltd. (now perform excavation) organization for local and national representatives to visit, witness ancient ship wrecked shell in rural Chau Thuan Sea waters, Binh Chau Commune, Son H.Binh and some excavated artifacts.

Doctorate (PhD) Vietnamese Nguyen, Director of the Center of Southeast Asian history (Science Research Council of Southeast Asia Vietnam) that ancient ship wrecked structure in Binh Chau has many features, not just the 12 ancient ship which scientists study the world of shipwrecks in Asia.

That technique bulkhead boat neck very special and certainly with a large wooden blade, about 1 m in diameter, all systems ship with wood shingle thickness 6-8 cm. This is ancient ship timbers best, including the volume and quality than 12 ancient ship unearthed in Asia.

According to Dr. Vietnam, so far, most of the ships were sunk neck deep in the sea is tens of meters to archaeologists only observed image artifacts and ancient sunken hull through the camera system. Particularly ancient ship sinking in Binh Chau located near the coast due to the use of the system to borrow waves, "slap" to sea excavation, salvage artifacts such as terrestrial conditions are ideal for scientists research hull neck.

"I studied ancient vessels over 30 years but have never been touched like this old hull, rudder vessel not seen before. So, here is the opportunity for historical research vessels, commercial history in Vietnam and the world, "said Dr. Vietnam.

Number of artifacts excavated from within the Binh Chau shipwreck artifacts is 268 barrels, of which more than 175 barrels of antiques and a few dozen broken ... coin money.

The types of artifacts unearthed very rich, such as bowls, pots, jars, vases lime, celadon green disc, ... brown glaze made with very intricate decorative patterns on a Figure 2 exhibits the fish (Pisces), lotus, ylang flowers ...

There is also a kind of unique value as a disk with a diameter of 36 cm dragon pattern, 6 weights with carved Chinese characters.